Warren Stewart – Page 6 – The Voting News

Pennsylvania is facing a significant shortage of experienced election directors ahead of the presidential election, with 58 officials who served during the November 2019 election having left their positions. This departure represents a loss of 293 years of combined experience among the state’s top county election officials. The turnover has prompted concerns about potential mistakes, disenfranchisement of voters, and disputes over election results. Read Article

Texas: “A hornet’s nest”: How the Gillespie County elections chief is doing his job amid ongoing conspiracy theories | Natalia Contreras/The Texas Tribune

Jim Riley, the elections administrator for Gillespie County, Texas, faced disappointment as a forum he organized to reassure the public about the integrity of local elections drew fewer attendees than expected, with some leaving prematurely. Riley, 76, has encountered resistance from local right-wing activists who want significant changes to the election process. Despite pressure to conform to their demands, Riley remains steadfast, asserting that hand-counting ballots won’t improve election integrity in Gillespie. His commitment is tested as he navigates the challenges of rebuilding trust and managing the demands of the job, while also contending with misinformation and a lack of support from some local officials. Read Article

Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers | Hallie Golden/Associated Press

The Washington state Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill making harassing election workers a felony, prompted by recent incidents, including envelopes containing suspicious powder, some testing positive for fentanyl, which forced the evacuation of four county election offices. The legislation aims to protect election workers amid rising threats, attributed to false claims about the 2020 election. The bill increases penalties for harassment and provides targeted workers with address confidentiality. Read Article

West Virginia election chief Mac Warner backs conspiracy theories | Kevin Collier/NBC

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, running for the Republican nomination for governor, has drawn attention for espousing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, including claims that the CIA and FBI lied to the American people, allegations debunked by both agencies. Despite previously working to combat election disinformation, Warner now embraces baseless theories that undermine confidence in the electoral process, a shift some colleagues see as politically motivated. While Warner insists on principle over politics, his assertions have strained relationships within the National Association of Secretaries of State, with fellow officials expressing disappointment and concern over his actions. Read Article

Wisconsin: ‘Monday processing’ bill appears unlikely to become law | Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner

Wisconsin Assembly leaders are urging the Senate to pass a bill allowing for “Monday processing” of absentee ballots, arguing that it would enhance transparency and public confidence in the electoral system. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos criticized Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu for suggesting the bill’s unlikelihood of passage, emphasizing concerns over late-night ballot processing. Despite bipartisan support in the Assembly, the bill faces opposition in the Senate committee, with opponents citing unfounded election conspiracy theories. Read Article

National: Threats To U.S. Elections Are Creating A New Kind Of National Security Challenge | Loren Thompson/Forbes

The Cold War era primarily focused on military challenges for national security, but today, threats extend to non-military domains like pandemics and climate change. Yet, the gravest emergent peril to American democracy lies in foreign and domestic attempts to undermine the election process. Efforts to compromise elections, whether through direct interference or disinformation campaigns, imperil the foundation of democracy. Recent elections have seen a surge in such activities, from Russian interference in 2016 to domestic challenges in 2020, eroding public trust in the electoral system. Foreign actors continue to attempt to influence U.S. elections through various means, necessitating improved cybersecurity and resource allocation to bolster the electoral infrastructure at federal, state, and local levels, Read Article

Arizona: 10 tons of ballot security paper may be for sale after failed Cochise County trial | Jen Fifield/Votebeat

A warehouse in Phoenix houses stacks of paper rolls weighing 10 tons each, initially intended for a Republican-led state grant project to test security features like watermarks on ballots. However, Cochise County’s failure to meet grant deadlines led to the project’s cancellation, leaving the county with surplus uncut paper and a watermarking machine. The dilemma of ownership and disposal arises, with potential solutions including a public auction to recoup state expenses, but concerns linger about the security risks posed by selling the paper, highlighting broader challenges in election security efforts amidst ongoing political controversies. Read Article

National: Federal law enforcement and cybersecurity officials deliver stark warnings to state election officials ahead of November | Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline

Federal law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities are cautioning state election administrators about imminent threats as the November presidential election approaches. Both familiar and new cyberattacks pose risks to voter databases through phishing or ransomware, while disinformation campaigns, propelled by advancements in artificial intelligence, aim to undermine confidence in election integrity. The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stress the heightened threat environment, urging preparedness and vigilance among state officials. Recent incidents, including bomb threats and cyberattacks, underscore the urgency of safeguarding election systems and personnel. Read Article

National: Election Denial Can’t Overcome Election Certification Protections | Lauren Miller/Brennan Center for Justice

The term “election certification” has gained unprecedented prominence following the tumultuous 2020 election and subsequent false claims of voter fraud, culminating in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Despite post-January 6 reforms aimed at safeguarding the Electoral College vote-counting process, attacks on certification have persisted at the local and state levels, exemplified by Cochise County, Arizona’s board of supervisors’ refusal to certify election results. Such refusals, rooted in election denialism, jeopardize the voting rights of constituents and undermine trust in the electoral process. Drawing parallels to historical instances of certification crises, a recent study illuminates the necessity of robust certification frameworks and offers insights to mitigate future attacks, emphasizing the imperative of upholding election integrity in the face of mounting challenges. Read Article

National: Election officials go on offense to prevent disruptions of 2024 vote | Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/The Washington Post

Election officials nationwide, including Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, are preparing for potential disruptions and threats during the upcoming presidential election, implementing measures such as active-shooter drills, distributing safety kits to election offices, and increasing coordination with law enforcement. With concerns about misinformation and threats to election integrity persisting, officials are taking proactive steps to educate voters, debunk false information, and protect election workers. These efforts reflect a broader trend of heightened preparedness in response to challenges posed by conspiracy theories, political unrest, and attempts to undermine trust in the electoral process, particularly in battleground states like Arizona that faced intense scrutiny and threats during the previous election cycle. Read Article

National: Gaps in AI robocall ban boost pressure on Congress, election officials | Julia Shapero/The Hill

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent ban on AI-generated voices in robocalls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act marks a crucial but limited step in addressing deceptive AI-generated content, leaving concerns about unregulated AI use in political campaigns. While the ban aims to protect consumers from scams and frauds, it overlooks AI-generated images and videos increasingly utilized in campaigns, prompting calls for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to fill regulatory gaps. Although the FEC is considering clarifying its rules against fraudulent misrepresentation in campaigns, progress has been slow, prompting advocacy for congressional action and clearer language to prohibit deceptive AI use. Read Article

National: Researchers Set Out to Tackle Voting Challenges of Military Members | Joseph Clark/DOD News

The prototype of a deployable voting machine developed by VotingWorks as part of a research project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency was unveiled last week during the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors conference in Washington, D.C. The prototype combines internet voting with a physical ballot for auditing purposes. Unlike other internet voting projects, the physical ballot is printed by the voter and is in their hands before transmission, enhancing security. The system uses the military’s Common Access Card aids in remote authentication. While the motivation for the project is laudable, concerns arise regarding the control over the physical ballot’s return and potential discrepancies between digital and physical ballots. A legal mechanism to resolve such discrepancies would need to be established in each state to conform to state election code. There are also numerous logistical challenges in maintaining self-serve kiosks, ranging from security issues to IT troubleshooting. Read Article

National: County election officials call for more funding, better security ahead of 2024 elections | Justin Papp/Roll Call

At the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference, local officials from across the country convened to address the mounting crisis faced by election workers due to threats and harassment, underscoring the potential threat to the integrity of forthcoming elections. Among the speakers was Bill Gates, a member of Maricopa County’s Board of Supervisors, who shared his firsthand encounters with threats in Arizona, emphasizing the imperative of prioritizing the physical security of election workers. President Joe Biden echoed these concerns, expressing gratitude for the courage of election workers and calling for a shift in the prevailing attitudes towards election participation. Read Article

Arizona: Tucson lawmaker’s proposal to give Trump state’s electoral votes before the election blows up | Howard Fischer/Tucson Daily Star

A proposal by Arizona Republican Rep. Rachel Jones to allocate the state’s 11 electoral votes to Donald Trump prior to the November election faced backlash from some GOP colleagues and failed to advance in the House Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections. House Concurrent Resolution 2055 resolves “to change the manner of the presidential election by appointing the eleven presidential electors to the Republican primary winner to offset the removal of a Republican candidate from the ballot in Colorado and Maine.” Jones’ scheme was apparently too much even for Republican Reps. Alexander Kolodin of Scottsdale and Justin Heap of Mesa, who like her are members of the hard-right Arizona Freedom Caucus. “Are you asking us just to give Donald Trump the electors without having a vote?” Heap asked. Yes, replied Josh Barnett, a state Senate candidate who is pushing the bill. “It’s the only way to protect the vote for ’24.” Read Article

‘California: An extreme agenda’: could a recall end far-right control of Shasta County? | Dani Anguiano/The Guardian

In 2022, 5,000 voters, angry about Covid-era health restrictions, ousted a moderate Republican official in Shasta county, California. The vote helped put the rural region, in the state’s north, on the map for extremist far-right politics In the two years since, the ultra-conservative majority that controls the county’s governing board has attempted to upend the voting system and spread conspiracy theories that elections were being rigged. They moved to allow people to carry firearms in public buildings in violation of state law and offered the county’s top job to the leader of a California secessionist group. Now, residents frustrated by the county’s recent governance hope another recall will force a change. They’re aiming to oust Kevin Crye, a far-right county supervisor who has been in office for just a year. Read Article

Georgia House votes to conduct more audits of computer vote counts | Mark Niesse/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With an overwhelming majority, the Georgia House has passed a bill mandating human verification of two statewide races during each election cycle. Sponsored by state Rep. John LaHood, the bill seeks to enhance transparency, accuracy, and accountability in elections, moving away from relying solely on computer counts. After the contentious 2020 presidential election, which saw a manual audit confirming the computer count, the proposed legislation calls for audits of the top race on the ballot and another statewide race chosen by key state officials. Read Article

Georgia: Conservative group tells judge it has no evidence to back its claims of ballot stuffing | Russ Bynum/Associated Press

A conservative group, True the Vote, admitted to a Georgia judge that it lacks evidence to support its claims of illegal ballot stuffing during the 2020 general election and a subsequent runoff. Despite filing complaints alleging coordinated efforts to collect and deposit ballots in drop boxes across metro Atlanta, the group failed to provide any names or documentary evidence to state elections officials, frustrating their investigation. True the Vote’s assertions were featured in a debunked film and sparked controversy, leading to legal battles and accusations of false claims. Despite efforts by Georgia officials to compel the group to disclose information, True the Vote came up empty-handed, prompting skepticism about the validity of its allegations and its overall credibility. Read Article

Michigan Now Offers In-Person Early Voting | Beth LeBlanc Hayley Harding/The Detroit News

Michigan’s upcoming presidential primary introduces early in-person voting as a significant shift in election dynamics, alongside the ongoing trend of absentee voting. This new option, enabled by a constitutional amendment passed in 2022, allows voters to cast ballots in person ahead of Election Day. While the impact on voting patterns remains uncertain, campaigns are adapting strategies to engage both early and Election Day voters. The expansion of voting options requires adjustments in staffing and resources for city clerks, with challenges including recruitment and training of election workers. Read Article

Minnesota: “It’s a great front row seat to democracy”: What to know about election machine testing | Sam Woodward/USA Today

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and local elections officials conducted a public accuracy test at the Scott County Government Center ahead of the presidential primary, emphasizing transparency and integrity in the election process. These tests, required before every election, aim to ensure that voting equipment accurately records ballots. Simon highlighted the importance of these tests amid past claims of election fraud, underscoring Minnesota’s commitment to secure and accessible elections. The testing process involves examining Dominion Voting machines and assessing alternative voting methods, such as handheld devices for visually or audibly impaired voters. Read Article

New Hampshire: The tangled web of corporations behind an AI robocall | Derek B. Johnson7CyberScoop

An investigation into the origin of AI-generated robocalls targeting New Hampshire voters implicates Walter Monk and his Texas-based company, Life Corporation, in the scheme. Monk’s network of companies, specializing in political marketing and fundraising services, has raised concerns about the potential for AI technology to spread disinformation, particularly in upcoming elections. Monk’s involvement in political marketing firms and a complex corporate structure underscore the challenges authorities face in untangling the operation. While Monk and Life Corporation have not been formally charged, cease-and-desist letters and subpoenas have been issued by state and federal authorities, who are investigating potential violations of election laws. Read Article

This Paennsylvania activist is the source of false and flawed election claims gaining traction across the country | Carter Walker/Votebeat

Heather Honey, an “election integrity” investigator from Pennsylvania, gained national attention among the far-right for her research, despite its numerous errors. Her claim that Pennsylvania had 205,000 more votes than voters during the 2020 election has been widely debunked, but it continues to be cited as fact by many. Honey’s flawed analysis has contributed to misinformation campaigns, undermining trust in election practices. Her recent focus on the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) led to several states withdrawing from the program, influenced by her misleading conclusions. Read Article

Wisconsin Assembly passes bills regulating AI use in elections | Todd Richmond/Associated Press

Wisconsin lawmakers have passed bills focused on regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in election contexts, particularly concerning political advertising and disinformation. The legislation mandates that political candidates and groups using AI in ads must include disclaimers, aiming to enhance transparency for voters who may struggle to discern fact from fiction. These measures highlight efforts to safeguard election integrity and combat the spread of false information as the use of AI in political campaigns continues to evolve. Rerad Article

National: CISA unveils election resource page for officials and workers | David DiMolfetta/Nextgov

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched the #Protect2024 webpage, offering election security resources to state and local governments and election workers amid heightened concerns over potential cyber threats and disinformation campaigns in the upcoming 2024 election. The initiative aims to address fears of foreign interference, domestic distrust following claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, and security vulnerabilities in electoral systems. The site provides guides on cybersecurity measures like multi-factor authentication and physical security assessments for election infrastructure, while urging participation in the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Read Article

National: Multiple threats to election systems prompt US cybersecurity agency to boost cooperation with states | Christina A. Cassidy/Associated Press

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched a program aimed at enhancing election security, particularly as state and local officials face escalating cybersecurity threats and election misinformation. With concerns over potential cyberattacks by foreign entities and recent incidents like AI-generated robocalls in New Hampshire and a cyberattack in Georgia, the program seeks to provide support and reassurance to election officials. The initiative involves 10 new hires with extensive election experience who will work closely with state election offices across the country, offering tailored assistance to address their unique security needs. State election officials welcomed the additional support, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnership with CISA to safeguard the integrity of the election process. Read Article

National: Threats against election workers spiked after 2020, fueling concerns about recruiting, retaining key workers | Bart Jansen/USA Today

After the 2020 election, threats against election workers surged, with cases like a Texas man threatening an Arizona county election official and her children or a New Hampshire woman threatening a Michigan county election official and her daughter. Despite increased security measures, the threats, fueled by false claims of widespread fraud, continue to worry state and local election officials. A Brennan Center for Justice survey in March 2022 revealed that three out of four election officials believe threats have increased, with one in six having been directly threatened. This harassment threatens recruitment and retention of election workers, as over 20% will serve in their first presidential election in 2024, and an average of two election officials per day have left their jobs since 2020. Read Article

National: Costs for Replacing Voting Equipment in 2024 | Brennan Center for Justice

When we first reviewed the status of voting equipment nearly a decade ago, we found that almost a quarter of all Election Day voters in 2016 would cast their votes on machines that did not produce a paper backup of their vote. Election experts consider a paper backup to be a critical security measure to ensure that ballots are counted as the voter intended. By 2024, that number has dropped dramatically, with only three states likely to still use paperless voting equipment in 2024. Indeed, we estimate that in the upcoming presidential election, nearly 99 percent of all registered voters will live in jurisdictions where they can cast a ballot with a paper record of the vote, including 100 percent of voters who will cast ballots in battleground states. Read Article

National: Deepfakes, dollars and ‘deep state’ fears: Inside the minds of election officials heading into 2024 | Derek B. Johnson/CyberScoop

American election administrators are facing significant challenges as they prepare for the 2024 elections, three years after the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob that believed in widespread voter fraud. Issues include emerging technologies fueling disinformation, limited resources, foreign interference, and widespread distrust from voters. Election officials, gathered at a conference hosted by the Election Assistance Commission, expressed anxiety about the upcoming year. The lack of federal funding for election security and administration, coupled with the threat of AI-generated disinformation, adds to their concerns. Officials are also addressing the hostile environment created by voters who believe in election fraud, with some facing threats, harassment, and violence. Read Article

National: AI technology sparks new worries, but poses familiar challenges to elections | Jessica Huseman/Votebeat

The recent emergence of AI-generated threats, like a robocall impersonating President Biden urging Democrats not to vote, has sparked concerns about AI’s potential impact on elections. However, a recent gathering of scholars, election officials, and journalists in New York, organized by Julia Angwin and Alondra Nelson, provided insights into AI’s capabilities and limitations. Participants tested AI language models on election-related prompts and found them lacking in accuracy, indicating that AI is not yet advanced enough to provide reliable election information. Despite these limitations, the event highlighted the importance of collaboration between election officials and AI experts to address emerging threats effectively. Read Article

National: Domestic Disruptions Are Equal Risk to Foreign Interference in 2024 Election, Experts Say | Carl Smith/Governing

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warns of new domestic threats affecting the 2024 election, anticipating potential violence and foreign interference targeting election infrastructure, processes, and personnel. While concerns about foreign interference persist, the emergence of domestic actors exacerbating distrust in electoral systems is noted. A recent webinar led by the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law discussed lessons from 2020 and anticipated challenges in social media, artificial intelligence, and foreign interference. Factors such as changes in social media usage, Supreme Court cases on social media regulation, and advances in artificial intelligence pose novel challenges. Read Article

National: Bipartisan report seeks ways to counter extreme polarization that has created distrust in elections | Gary Fields/Associated Press